Letter: Mobile market will hit the streets

The writer of your June 6 letter "Mobile oases for food deserts" hit the nail on the head with regard to the problems of food access in our city, especially in parts of Memphis also suffering from higher-than-average rates of heart disease and diabetes.

The letter writer asks "why some enterprising person has not started a mobile produce truck." We at the MemphisMobile Market want to let her and the rest of Memphis know that we are doing just that. Our group is comprised of medical and graduate students from the UT Health Science Center, along with faculty members. We have modeled our program on a similar initiative in Nashville and are in the process of procuring funds to get our truck up and running. The support we have received so far from local businesses has been enthusiastic, and our target community in Raleigh-Frayser has been crucial in guiding our operation.

In the early fall, we will begin bringing fresh produce, meat and dairy products at a lower cost to the Memphis food deserts. Our information is freely available online, for those wanting to know more.